29 Back to school hacks test date

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The school year is creeping up on us! Be prepared with these time and money savers.

PHOTO: Bill McChesney, Flickr

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1. Break in kids shoes without blisters. Have them put on thick socks and then the shoes. Blow-dry the shoes around the tight sections for a few minutes. Keep foot inside while shoes cool. Repeat until they’re stretched enough for the first day of school.

PHOTO: Kara Shallenberg, Flickr

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2. Put lunch boxes next to shoes to make sure no one forgets to grab theirs.

PHOTO: Sam Howzit, Flickr

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3. Pack what you can into the car the night before. Anything that doesn't need to be at a certain temperature is better left where you won’t be able to forget it.

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4. Wake everyone up 15 min before they need to start getting ready. This leaves time for a consistent family plan meeting before school.

PHOTO: Toshiyuki IMAI, Flickr

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5. Make a color-coded calendar with a different color for each kid’s activities.

PHOTO: txkimmers, Flickr

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6. Easy bacon pancakes, filling and delicious breakfast on the go.

PHOTO: Kitchen Life of a Navy Wife, Flickr

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7. Boiled eggs make a great snack, add one teaspoon of baking soda when boiling and the shell will come off effortlessly.

PHOTO: cursedthing, Flickr

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8. Follow the good sandwich guide. Cut 2 slices of circular lunch meat and cheese in half. Put rounded side facing toward the center so the straight edges fill the bread. Use this trick to reduce overlapping and allow for a good bite even in the corners! (Courtesy: Jonathan Rolande, Flickr)

PHOTO: Jonathan Rolande, Flickr

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9. Suggest a favorite snack or activity for after school to motivate kids through their day.

PHOTO: Oskay, Flickr

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10. To keep water bottles cold until lunch, fill half way with water and place it on its side in the freezer over- night, then fill the rest with tap water in the morning.

PHOTO: Imran Ali, Flickr

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11. Leftovers make for an easy school lunch, have kids reheat food by spacing out a circle in the middle to heat evenly.

PHOTO: Flickr/Mary

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12. Use a hair straightener to quickly iron hems in the morning.

PHOTO: elzoh, Flickr

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13. Paint clear nail polish over buttons to keep them from falling off of new clothes.

PHOTO: Mark Botham, Flickr

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14. Create a quiet zone for reading or homework.

PHOTO: Julie Paradise1, Flickr

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15. Leave an M&M trail to encourage reading.

PHOTO: WLKY

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16. Dryer sheets remove deodorant stains without leaving water spots in the morning.

PHOTO: Jamison Hiner, Flickr

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17. Pumice stones can de-fuzz last year’s sweaters.

PHOTO: Silke Gerstenkorn, Flickr

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18. You can heal paper cuts with Chapstick.

PHOTO: Brian Gaid, Flickr

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19. Instead of spending money on expensive sandals, create your own decorative version out of cheap flip flops beads, shells, and ribbon.

PHOTO: Nono Fara, Flickr

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20. Use beeswax to waterproof canvas shoes.

PHOTO: woodleywonderworks, Flickr

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21. Get rid of armpit stains in last year's clothes with a mix of peroxide and soap.

PHOTO: Jonathan Boeke, Flickr

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22. Make your own microwave popcorn. It's healthier and cheaper than pre-packaged!

24. Put pancake batter into a ketchup bottle the night before for no mess and to save time in the morning!

PHOTO: Daniel Oines, Flickr

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25. Running late and no time to shower the kids before school? Make your own oily hair “dry cleaner” with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, 4 tablespoons of water, and 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol. Pour the mix into a spray bottle and spray anywhere on the head that needs to be de-greased.

PHOTO: Pawel Loj, Flickr

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26. Put a frozen, saturated sponge in a bag to make an icepack. It won’t drip all over the lunchbox when it melts.

PHOTO: gosheshe, Flickr

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27. Grapes are known to increase brain function, pack as a healthy snack!

The school year is creeping up on us! Be prepared with these time and money savers.

PHOTO: Bill McChesney, Flickr

1. Break in kids shoes without blisters. Have them put on thick socks and then the shoes. Blow-dry the shoes around the tight sections for a few minutes. Keep foot inside while shoes cool. Repeat until they’re stretched enough for the first day of school.

PHOTO: Kara Shallenberg, Flickr

2. Put lunch boxes next to shoes to make sure no one forgets to grab theirs.

PHOTO: Sam Howzit, Flickr

3. Pack what you can into the car the night before. Anything that doesn't need to be at a certain temperature is better left where you won’t be able to forget it.

4. Wake everyone up 15 min before they need to start getting ready. This leaves time for a consistent family plan meeting before school.

PHOTO: Toshiyuki IMAI, Flickr

5. Make a color-coded calendar with a different color for each kid’s activities.

PHOTO: txkimmers, Flickr

6. Easy bacon pancakes, filling and delicious breakfast on the go.

PHOTO: Kitchen Life of a Navy Wife, Flickr

7. Boiled eggs make a great snack, add one teaspoon of baking soda when boiling and the shell will come off effortlessly.

PHOTO: cursedthing, Flickr

8. Follow the good sandwich guide. Cut 2 slices of circular lunch meat and cheese in half. Put rounded side facing toward the center so the straight edges fill the bread. Use this trick to reduce overlapping and allow for a good bite even in the corners! (Courtesy: Jonathan Rolande, Flickr)

PHOTO: Jonathan Rolande, Flickr

9. Suggest a favorite snack or activity for after school to motivate kids through their day.

PHOTO: Oskay, Flickr

10. To keep water bottles cold until lunch, fill half way with water and place it on its side in the freezer over- night, then fill the rest with tap water in the morning.

PHOTO: Imran Ali, Flickr

11. Leftovers make for an easy school lunch, have kids reheat food by spacing out a circle in the middle to heat evenly.

PHOTO: Flickr/Mary

12. Use a hair straightener to quickly iron hems in the morning.

PHOTO: elzoh, Flickr

13. Paint clear nail polish over buttons to keep them from falling off of new clothes.

PHOTO: Mark Botham, Flickr

14. Create a quiet zone for reading or homework.

PHOTO: Julie Paradise1, Flickr

15. Leave an M&M trail to encourage reading.

PHOTO: WLKY

16. Dryer sheets remove deodorant stains without leaving water spots in the morning.

PHOTO: Jamison Hiner, Flickr

17. Pumice stones can de-fuzz last year’s sweaters.

PHOTO: Silke Gerstenkorn, Flickr

18. You can heal paper cuts with Chapstick.

PHOTO: Brian Gaid, Flickr

19. Instead of spending money on expensive sandals, create your own decorative version out of cheap flip flops beads, shells, and ribbon.

PHOTO: Nono Fara, Flickr

20. Use beeswax to waterproof canvas shoes.

PHOTO: woodleywonderworks, Flickr

21. Get rid of armpit stains in last year's clothes with a mix of peroxide and soap.

PHOTO: Jonathan Boeke, Flickr

22. Make your own microwave popcorn. It's healthier and cheaper than pre-packaged!

24. Put pancake batter into a ketchup bottle the night before for no mess and to save time in the morning!

PHOTO: Daniel Oines, Flickr

25. Running late and no time to shower the kids before school? Make your own oily hair “dry cleaner” with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, 4 tablespoons of water, and 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol. Pour the mix into a spray bottle and spray anywhere on the head that needs to be de-greased.

PHOTO: Pawel Loj, Flickr

26. Put a frozen, saturated sponge in a bag to make an icepack. It won’t drip all over the lunchbox when it melts.

PHOTO: gosheshe, Flickr

27. Grapes are known to increase brain function, pack as a healthy snack!

The school year is creeping up on us! Be prepared with these time and money savers.

PHOTO: Bill McChesney, Flickr

1. Break in kids shoes without blisters. Have them put on thick socks and then the shoes. Blow-dry the shoes around the tight sections for a few minutes. Keep foot inside while shoes cool. Repeat until they’re stretched enough for the first day of school.

PHOTO: Kara Shallenberg, Flickr

2. Put lunch boxes next to shoes to make sure no one forgets to grab theirs.

PHOTO: Sam Howzit, Flickr

3. Pack what you can into the car the night before. Anything that doesn't need to be at a certain temperature is better left where you won’t be able to forget it.

4. Wake everyone up 15 min before they need to start getting ready. This leaves time for a consistent family plan meeting before school.

PHOTO: Toshiyuki IMAI, Flickr

5. Make a color-coded calendar with a different color for each kid’s activities.

PHOTO: txkimmers, Flickr

6. Easy bacon pancakes, filling and delicious breakfast on the go.

PHOTO: Kitchen Life of a Navy Wife, Flickr

7. Boiled eggs make a great snack, add one teaspoon of baking soda when boiling and the shell will come off effortlessly.

PHOTO: cursedthing, Flickr

8. Follow the good sandwich guide. Cut 2 slices of circular lunch meat and cheese in half. Put rounded side facing toward the center so the straight edges fill the bread. Use this trick to reduce overlapping and allow for a good bite even in the corners! (Courtesy: Jonathan Rolande, Flickr)

PHOTO: Jonathan Rolande, Flickr

9. Suggest a favorite snack or activity for after school to motivate kids through their day.

PHOTO: Oskay, Flickr

10. To keep water bottles cold until lunch, fill half way with water and place it on its side in the freezer over- night, then fill the rest with tap water in the morning.

PHOTO: Imran Ali, Flickr

11. Leftovers make for an easy school lunch, have kids reheat food by spacing out a circle in the middle to heat evenly.

PHOTO: Flickr/Mary

12. Use a hair straightener to quickly iron hems in the morning.

PHOTO: elzoh, Flickr

13. Paint clear nail polish over buttons to keep them from falling off of new clothes.

PHOTO: Mark Botham, Flickr

14. Create a quiet zone for reading or homework.

PHOTO: Julie Paradise1, Flickr

15. Leave an M&M trail to encourage reading.

PHOTO: WLKY

16. Dryer sheets remove deodorant stains without leaving water spots in the morning.

PHOTO: Jamison Hiner, Flickr

17. Pumice stones can de-fuzz last year’s sweaters.

PHOTO: Silke Gerstenkorn, Flickr

18. You can heal paper cuts with Chapstick.

PHOTO: Brian Gaid, Flickr

19. Instead of spending money on expensive sandals, create your own decorative version out of cheap flip flops beads, shells, and ribbon.

PHOTO: Nono Fara, Flickr

20. Use beeswax to waterproof canvas shoes.

PHOTO: woodleywonderworks, Flickr

21. Get rid of armpit stains in last year's clothes with a mix of peroxide and soap.

PHOTO: Jonathan Boeke, Flickr

22. Make your own microwave popcorn. It's healthier and cheaper than pre-packaged!

24. Put pancake batter into a ketchup bottle the night before for no mess and to save time in the morning!

PHOTO: Daniel Oines, Flickr

25. Running late and no time to shower the kids before school? Make your own oily hair “dry cleaner” with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, 4 tablespoons of water, and 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol. Pour the mix into a spray bottle and spray anywhere on the head that needs to be de-greased.

PHOTO: Pawel Loj, Flickr

26. Put a frozen, saturated sponge in a bag to make an icepack. It won’t drip all over the lunchbox when it melts.

PHOTO: gosheshe, Flickr

27. Grapes are known to increase brain function, pack as a healthy snack!